Device for supporting objects

ABSTRACT

A device for supporting a bathroom object having a main element with a first end attachable to a bathroom object and a second end attachable to a supporting surface and provided with a through-going opening through which a fastener can pass to engage in the supporting surface, and an additional element having a first side provided with an adhesive layer attachable to the supporting surface and a second opposite side into which a fastening element can be screwed, so that without the additional element the second end of the main element is connected to the supporting surface by the fastener, while with the additional element, the second end is connected by the fastener to the additional element and the additional element is connected to the supporting surface by the adhesive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for supporting objects.

Devices of this type, including main elements with a first endattachable to a bathroom object and a second end attachable to asupporting surface to attach the object to the supporting surface areknown.

It is believed that the existing devices can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide adevice for supporting bathroom objects which is a further improvement ofexisting devices of this type.

In keeping with these objects one feature of the present inventionresides in a device for supporting a bathroom object, comprising a mainelement having a first end attachable to a bathroom object and a secondend attachable to a supporting surface to attach the object by saidattaching element to the supporting surface, said second end beingprovided with a through-going opening through which a fastener can passto engage in the supporting surface and to connect the second end to thesupporting surface; and an additional element having a first sideprovided with an adhesive layer attachable to the supporting surface anda second opposite side into which the fastening element can be screwedto extend only over a part of a thickness of said additional element, sothat without said additional element said second end of said mainelement is connected to the supporting surface by the fastener, whilewith said additional element interposed between said second end and thesupporting surface, said second end is connected by a fastener to theadditional element and said additional element is connected to thesupporting surface by said adhesive.

A further feature of the present invention is that said additionalelement has a protruded portion facing said second end and engageable bysaid fastener.

A further feature of the present invention is that said second end has ahollow projection for guiding said fastener.

A further feature of the present invention is that a cover is attachableto said second end at a side facing away from said additional element.

A further feature of the present invention is that said cover has aprojection cooperating with said hollow projection of said second end tohold said cover on said second end.

A further feature of the present invention is that the second end has areceptacle for fittingly receiving the cover.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for thepresent invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a back view and a side view of a mainelement of the inventive device for supporting a bathroom object; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing all components of the inventivedevice for supporting a bathroom object, before assembling the device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device for supporting a bathroom object has a main element which isidentified with reference numeral 1 and has a first end 2, to which abathroom object can be attached for example by tight fitting of thebathroom object onto the main element 1 or by insertion into an openingof the first end.

The main element 1 so has a second end 3 attachable to a supportingsurface 4, for example to a wall. The second end 3 has a throughgoingopening 5, which can be formed for example in a sleeve shaped projection6 through which a fastener, for example a screw 7 can pass. The inneropening of the projection 6 can be threaded, so that the screw 7 isscrewed through it. The opening also can be smooth so that the thread ofthe screw 7 cuts through the material, for example plastic material, ofthe projection 6.

In accordance with a first mode of operation of the device, the bathroomobject is attached to the end 2 of the main element 1, the main element1 is pressed by its second end 3 against the supporting surface 4, andthe fastener 7 is passed through the opening 5 and screwed into thesupporting surface 4, thus supporting the bathroom object on thesupporting surface.

A cover 8 covers a pocket 9 in the second end 3 of the main element 1,so as to hide the head of the fastener 7. The cover 8 has a tubularprojection 10, which is slotted and thereby expansible and tightlyfittable onto the projection 6 of the element 1 to retain the cover 8 onthe main element 1.

The device is provided also with an additional element 11 having anadhesive layer 12. The additional element is used when it is notdesirable to drive the fastener 7 into the supporting surface 4. Theadditional element 11 has an opening 13, which can be formed for examplein a sleeve-shaped projection 14. The projection 14 is fittable firmlyinto the opening 5.

In accordance with a second mode of operation, a bathroom object isattached to the end 2 of the main element 1, a fastening element 15,which can be formed as a shorter screw, is passed through the opening 5and screwed into the opening 13 thus connecting the elongated element 1and the additional element 11 with one another, and the additionalelement 11 is then adhesively attached to the supporting face 4, thusadhesively supporting the bathroom object on the supporting surface. Theopening 13 can be threaded for screwing the screw 15 into it. It can bealso smooth, so that the thread of the screw 15 cuts into the material,for example plastic material, of the projection 14.

The additional element 11 can have a receptacle 16 formed by aperipheral projection 17 of the additional element, so that the secondend 3 of the main element 1 can be press-fitted into the receptacle 16and firmly held in it.

It is to be understood that the opening 13 of the additional element canbe formed in it without the projection 14.

With the present invention, therefore, an object can be corrected to thesupporting surface selectively, either by a fastener such as a screw, oralternatively by an adhesive, with the use of the inventive device.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied indevice for supporting bathroom objects, it is not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.
 1. A device for supporting a bathroomobject, comprising a main element for supporting the object on asupporting surface and having a first end attachable to a the bathroomobject and a second end attachable to the supporting surface to attachthe object by said main element to the supporting surface, said secondend of said main element being provided with a through-going openingthrough which a fastener can pass to engage in the supporting surfaceand to connect the second end of the main element to the supportingsurface ; and an additional element for supporting the object on thesupporting surface jointly with said main element and having a firstside facing away from said main element and provided with an adhesivelayer attachable to the supporting surface and a second opposite sidefacing toward said main element and into which the fastener can bescrewed to extend only over a part of a thickness of said additionalelement, so that without said additional element said second end of saidmain element is connected to the supporting surface by the fastener andsaid main element alone supports the object on the supporting surface,while with said additional element interposed between said second end ofsaid main element and the supporting surface, said second end of saidmain element is connected by the fastener to said additional element andsaid additional element is connected to the supporting surface by saidadhesive layer and said additional element together with said mainelement support the object on the supporting surface.
 2. A device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said additional element has a portion facingsaid second end of said main element and engageable by said fastener. 3.A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second end of said mainelement has a hollow projection provided with said through-goingopening.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3, further comprising a coverattachable to said second end of said main element at a side facing awayfrom said additional element.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4, whereinsaid cover has a projection cooperating with said hollow projection ofsaid second end of said main element to hold said cover on said secondend of said main element.
 6. A device as defined in claim 3, whereinsaid additional element has a projection insertable into said hollowprojection of said second end of said main element and having an openingfor the fastener.
 7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidadditional element has a receptacle for fittingly receiving said secondend of said main element.
 8. A device as defined in claim 3, whereinsaid hollow projection of said main element has an end surface whichforms a stop for a head of the fastener.
 9. (canceled)
 10. A device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said second end of said main element has ahollow projection provided with said through-going opening, wherein saidadditional element at a side facing said main element has a projectioninsertable into said hollow projection of said second end of said mainelement and having an opening, wherein said fastener includes first andsecond fastening elements, wherein for connecting said second end ofsaid main element to the supporting surface said first fastening elementextends through said through-going opening of said hollow projection ofsaid main element and into the supporting surface, and wherein forconnecting said additional element to the supporting surface by saidadhesive layer and connecting said main element to said additionalelement said projection of said additional element is inserted into saidhollow projection of said main element and said second fastening elementextends through said through-going opening of said hollow projection ofsaid main element and into said opening of said projection of saidadditional element.
 11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein saidsecond fastening element is shorter than said first fastening element.